Another BIG Generic Drug Recall: This Time It is the Antidepressant Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)

Caraco, a division of the huge Indian drug company Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd, has had to recall 41,127 bottles of the antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor XR). According to our calculations, that equals 2,109,630 pills that must be pulled off pharmacy shelves in the U.S.

The question is, will any patients be advised to return their pill bottles to their local pharmacy for a refund and/or substitution? For reasons that we do not understand, that rarely happens. The rules for drug recalls seem different from those for cars or other consumer products. Pharmacists are told to examine their inventory and strip their shelves of Caraco’s venlafaxine (Lot #s JKM2305A, JKL5054A, JKL5054B, JKM2305B) because “the product did not meet the drug release dissolution specifications.” Pharmacists will not be permitted to dispense these pills, but patients will not be told whether they have already received pills from the affected lots and will not be encouraged to return them.

Do you feel as if you have passed through the looking glass into the world of Alice in Wonderland? The FDA has classified this recall as a “Class II” event. This is considered an intermediate threat that could cause “temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.” Although there is a serious risk requiring recall of the product in question, there is presumably no immediate danger of death or other serious injury. Does that reassure you? It does not reassure us. If the formulation is flawed enough to be withdrawn from the market, then we think patients should be informed and allowed to substitute a better formulation at no additional cost to them.

The problem is that most pharmacies do not put lot numbers on generic drug bottles. You will have a hard time determining whether your venlafaxine is part of the recall without contacting your pharmacist. Even then you may not get a clear answer because not all pharmacies keep track of the lot numbers they dispense to patients.

This is not the first time that Caraco has issued an “urgent drug recall.” On April 8, 2014, this division of Sun Pharma of India recalled a number of extended release venlafaxine pills because they too “did not meet the drug release specifications.” Over 250,000 bottles of venlafaxine and 128,000 bottles of the antihistamine cetirizine (Zyrtec) were pulled because of dissolution issues.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries is the largest drug manufacturer in India. The company is acquiring Ranbaxy, another huge Indian generic drug company that has had its own manufacturing problems. Ranbaxy had to recall millions of generic atorvastatin (Lipitor) pills a couple of years ago. The FDA went so far as to ban all Ranbaxy products produced in four of its major manufacturing plants in India because of serious regulatory violations. Some of the products affected included lorazepam, doxycycline, donepezil, clorazepate and midazolam to name just a few. For a more comprehensive list of Ranbaxy products that were manufactured at its Indian plants that were banned from exporting to the U.S., here is a link.

Two other large Indian drug companies have also had manufacturing problems of late. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories had to recall 13,000 bottles of the beta blocker heart drug metoprolol (Toprol XL) and Wockhardt removed more than 100,000 bottles of its generic metoprolol. Both formulations had dissolution problems.

The FDA continues to insist that all is fine in generic drug land. Insurance companies often require that patients purchase low cost products, largely because of FDA assurances. When people complain that there are problems with their generic pills, they are often dismissed.

The approval of generic drugs by the FDA is an opaque process at best. The agency rarely if ever releases bioequivalence data. The mantra goes something like this: trust us, we’re the FDA and we know what we are doing. You do not have to see the data upon which we base our generic drug approvals. Physicians, pharmacists, drug chain buyers and patients have accepted this without question. Many health professionals also assume that the FDA actually tests imported drugs for quality. Wrong! The agency has relied primarily on the honor system, trusting foreign manufacturers to do the right thing. That has proven to be a bad decision, based on the number of recalls we have seen in recent years.

What is the impact on patients? Here are just a few stories we have received:

“Yes- the generics from one pharmacy can absolutely differ!

“The pharmacies I have dealt with have one or two different generics for a particular drug that are dictated by the parent company and stocked by that chain’s warehouse. Another pharmacy may or may not have the same generic. That is the problem I ran into when my neighborhood chain pharmacy was bought by another chain. The warehouse that supplied them also changed, and I received a prescription for venlafaxine (Effexor) that plunged me back into depression. The new generic was manufactured by an Indian company that has had some of its generics banned by the FDA due to underdosing.

“I inquired as to what generic I had received previously (and that had worked fine), and found it at another pharmacy, to which I transferred my prescription. I had to fight the insurance company for three months, however, since I had a 90-day supply of the inferior drug on hand that I could not use. You need to find out the manufacturer of generics that work for you (usually the name of the company or an abbreviation will be on the bottle) and make sure you receive it next time. Good luck!” M.N.D.

“I started taking the branded antidepressant Effexor-XR 75mg about 10 years ago. I was switched to the generic venlafaxine when it came out a few years ago. Last month the pharmacy changed manufacturers of the generic formulation and the pharmacist and my doctor said their was no difference. However after two weeks all the symptoms and problems such as worry and panic attacks that I had years ago came back and I decided to get a second opinion from a locally owned pharmacy. They said that all generics are not the same. The pharmacist told me they only distribute venlafaxine that is manufactured by Greenstone which are red capsules and not yellow.

“Now after taking these for two weeks I am finally getting my life back and would not wish my experience on any one. I had to miss a few days of work because I literally couldn’t get out of bed I was so down and out. If anyone has had a similar experience I sure would like to know.” Larry

“Walgreens recently changed my Teva-generic Effexor XR 150mg (venlafaxine) to Aurobindo. I have been taking it for 5 days and am experiencing withdrawal symptoms. I am going to call Walgreens on Monday to notify them and will also submit the FDA reporting form. The FDA needs to do a thorough investigation of this company’s products!” S.T.

“I have been on venlafaxine for a couple years now for depression. It has been a great med for me. That is until my local pharmacy changed manufacturers of the 150mg XR, of which I take 2 a day. I worked in said pharmacy when the warehouse switched mfgs. I was VERY leery of changing mfgs, because of something that happened in the past with a different drug; same situation.

“My co-worker poo poohed me, saying it’s the same drug. So, I got a 30 day supply, with a higher co-pay than the 90 day supply. I wanted to see if it would be any different. I was changed from the Teva generic of venlafaxine to a formulation made by Aurobindo. The first month was ok. I had a few ‘swimmy’ feelings, but over all, was ok. I thought that feeling might be my blood pressure getting too high. Then I had a 90 day prescription filled.

“After about 45 more days on the same dosage I’d been on for about 2 years, I began to have way more ‘swimmy’ feelings and dizziness. I took my meds at the same time every day, like clockwork. I went through this hell every day. It caused me problems at work and in my personal life. I was not the same person. As I said to a coworker, ‘I just don’t feel like me.’ I asked if we could order the Teva brand, and was told no, it wasn’t the manufacturer; there must be something else wrong.

“Well, last Tuesday I went to the doctor. She asked me about symptoms, took my BP, checked my blood sugar, etc. She said it sounded like withdrawal symptoms. I tried taking one in the am and one at noon, but that just made the symptoms worse. I feel that this is a manufacturing problem, where the medicine doesn’t release like it should.

“I am no longer working in that pharmacy, but still have to get my drugs from there. Dammit anyway! So, now that I’m not an employee, I’m going to put my foot down that they order the Teva generic. I’m tired of feeling this way! I tried so many different things before I got to this one, and this one works for me. I’m feeling terrible, like I did before I started taking the venlafaxine.

“Maybe the manufacturer of generic drugs DOES make a difference….even though they say it doesn’t.” Stacey

What fascinates us regarding different generic formulations is that one person may find that a particular manufacturer’s product works well, while another person finds it causes problems. This suggests at least two possibilities. People vary in their response or generic manufacturers produce products that vary substantially one from another. Here are a few more examples of just such reports:

“In 2013, while traveling, I ran out of Effexor XR 75 mg. I received a generic refill by Teva at a Walgreens. Within 2 days I went into what I think was Effexor withdrawal — many side effects, including fuzzy vision. I switched back to Effexor XR in another city, which worked, but it took weeks before I was back to normal.

“When a generic releases most of the active ingredient at once instead of slowly over the 24- hour period, it is dangerous. FDA should decide these generics are NOT equivalent to extended release brand name meds. Thank goodness I was not driving when my body got messed up.” B.D.

“Some years ago I was prescribed Effexor XL 75 mg. daily for anxiety and mild depression, and took the brand name drug with good results. Two years ago, I again was prescribed Effexor and had good results, even though this prescription was for the generic drug. In March, I refilled my prescription and within two or three weeks, felt very depressed, anxious, and teary. I checked with the drugstore that had filled my prescription (as well as all my past prescriptions). I found out that their supplier had changed since the drugstore chain was bought by another well-known drugstore chain. Many of their generics were now made by different manufacturers. This had caused them to switch me from the generic Effexor made by Aurobindo to one made by Zydus.

“I also found out that some drugs made by Zydus have been banned in the U.S. due to possible underdosing. I got a new prescription, fought with the insurance company for refilling my prescription too early, and switched pharmacies to one that could give me Aurobindo’s generic. Now I am back on an even keel. My husband and I have since switched all our generic prescriptions from the original pharmacy, after finding more instances of their new supplier having generics from companies, some in India, with complaints about their quality.” M.D.

“I have been on Effexor XR for 12 years and have been as good as I can get. I am a veteran and have always been able to get Wyeth Effexor…until a move and a new pharmacist. She insists that the generic is the same. I have tried her generic and within 3 days I was so dizzy I couldn’t stand up.

“Luckily I had tried her generic before being totally out of the brand name Effexor XR. I had my wife give me the brand name and I was fine by morning. I have only a few days left of the non generic. Don’t know what I am going to do. Anybody have any suggestions?

“I contacted Pfizer, the parent company of Wyeth. I asked them about the release system. Because the generic time release does not seem to be timed release it just dumps the drug all at once. Wyeth said the only generic they could guarantee that has the same time release as the original is their authorized generic; sold by Greenstone. If somebody has had experience with Greenstone I would like to hear about it.” L.A.

What has been your reaction to the generic antidepressant venlafaxine? What about other generic drugs? We would like to hear both positive as well as negative stories. Perhaps others can benefit from your experience.

Join Over 120,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

Email Address

Each week we send two free email newsletters with breaking health news, prescription drug information, home remedies and a preview of our award-winning radio show. Join our mailing list and get the information you need to make confident choices about your health.

Advertisement

32 Thoughts Shared

JD

United Kingdom

September 4, 2016 at 2:19 am

I have been on Pzifer Effexor for sever clinical depression for many many years now, having worked originally with a psychiatrist and my GP trying out different types of antidepressants, different dosages and ways of taking medications until we found the one that worked for me, and then more recently a number of generics of venlafaxine. I have now been on 150mg of Effexor XR for a number of years and it works very well for me and allows me to just live a normal life, including working in an extremely high pressure job, working up to 90 hours a week and having to be 100% on-point and able to deal with difficult and complicated situations on a regular basis (and pay a ridiculous amount of tax and national insurance every month).

About 10 days ago my GP changed the prescription to a generic called Venlalic because this is cheaper on the nhs in the UK and they “aren’t allowed” to prescribe the Effexor. Within about two days my sleeping patterns flipped completely and I couldn’t sleep at night and needed to sleep all day, then I started to develop a consistently sore stomach and by day four had constipation (which has never been an issue for me and I am usually as regular as clockwork). I was also breaking out in pimples (something I haven’t had a problem with for a long time now) and having very extreme sweating – on the Effexor I do suffer from excessive sweating but this was in a whole other league with hot flashes and suddenly finding that I had sweat pouring down my face when I was just sitting on the couch.

By day seven of being on Venlalic I was very nauseous and felt like I had been hit by a freight train – I was severely exhausted, like when you have finished running a marathon and can’t stand anymore as you knees collapse from under you, your muscles feel like jelly and you can’t focus or concentrate on anything and just want to collapse in a heap on the floor, and I didn’t want speak to, see or have personal contact with anyone – not even on the phone. At that stage I made the connection that the only thing that had changed in my life was the medication.

After arguing with the receptionist at my GP practice I managed to get a same day appointment with a GP “as an emergency”. The doctor was very reluctant to make the change and would only give me 28 days of Effexor and requires me to return in four weeks for “a review” instead of giving me a prescription with repeats (as I had been getting for 15+ years prior to this incident). At the time she said me “they tell us the generic is exactly the same” but, thank god, agreed to make an exception for now. I have now had one dose of my original Effexor and the constipation and sore stomach have already stopped, as well as the excessive sweating. I am also feeling more comfortable speaking to people again and the fuzziness is starting to clear. I still feel a bit like I have been hit by a sledgehammer and my sleep patterns are still out of whack but hopefully that will stabilise in the next few days.

As a result of this I have been scouring the web and doing a ton of research and compiling it so that I can be sure to understand exactly what the situation is with generics and have the information to provide my GP when I return for the review in four weeks. One of the most useful bits of information I found is on crazymeds.us and says:

“Standards… do not specifically regulate how quickly the medicine reaches peak concentration in the blood. That can become a major issue for patients who take generic versions of time-release drugs. The time-release mechanisms for branded drugs are usually protected by separate patents (as is still the case with Effexor XR), so generics companies engineer alternatives and usually cheaper mechanisms. This can result in drugs that release active ingredients into the blood far more quickly, leaving patients feeling dizzy or nauseous. (Teva’s generic for Wellbutrin had its license revoked partly due to the generic’s active ingredient dissolving four times more quickly in the first two hours than that of the brand name because of a different time-release mechanism.)

When dosage-critical drugs are involved, there can be a significant difference between brand-name and generic drugs, as well as between meds from different generics manufacturers…

• If… patient began treatment with a brand-name, dosage-critical drug, or drug with a narrow therapeutic index, then they should stay on the branded med.
• If… patient began treatment with a generic dosage-critical drug, or drug with a narrow therapeutic index, then generics are fine. And, if at all possible, they shouldn’t be switched from one manufacturer’s med to another’s without a good reason. E.g. an allergy to an inactive ingredient.”

Robert

I took this prescription in Arkansas , I now live in California

June 8, 2016 at 11:03 pm

Dee

Connecticut

April 3, 2016 at 11:31 am

The whole reason I am on this site is because of how blah I have been feeling recently & realized that I had recently started a new supply from a new RX Insurance. I have been on Venlafaxine 75mg for several years – started on Effexor 25mg then was switched to generic. Most of the time the capsules were Teva (if not all the time ) but my current ones are Zydus and now I am convinced that the way I’m feeling is due to the change in manufacturer. I am low, lethargic, and with no desire to do much of anything. I am contacting my Doctor tomorrow for a prescription for Effexor as my Insurance said I cannot guarantee that by asking for a particular pharmaceutical manufacturer I will get it. The FDA should look into the strength of generic meds compared to the brand name. From what I have been reading on this site it definitely feels as if my capsules are not the strength they say they are.

Brian

Philadelphia, PA

April 16, 2016 at 2:10 pm

Yes, I’ve also run in to numerous problems with Zydus. I could list several inferior meds I received that were manufactured by Zydus, but for this topic, I’ll just mention paroxetine (Paxil).

This is truly sickening, because I’m aware that Zydus Cadilla has thoroughly been made aware that their medications aren’t meeting FDA specifications. Also, I believe that they have received warning letters regarding some issues having to do with certain manufacturing facilities.

Yet despite these repeated warnings/violations, the FDA seems to be turning a blind eye to what’s going on with Zydus.

Sunny Aviles-Angelucci

Pa

February 14, 2016 at 12:01 pm

I’ve been on 150mg of Effexor for years, I recently had my dose upped to 225mg, a solid white pill. Immediately I was ill, in one week I suffered about 10 panic attacks I had to leave work I couldn’t get out of bed, I was crying scared, and thought I would have to commit myself. Two weeks passed and I wasn’t getting better I happened to look in the toilet after I had gone to the bathroom and noticed white pills in my stool. Space I took them out and it was my medicine undissolved and still intact. Apparently my system isn’t dissolving them and I went into full blown withdrawal of Effexor! I began taking my normal dose which always worked fine and still a week later I’m still passing the white pills in my stool. I’m truly pissed off that this happen I thought I was going crazy I missed work it was insane, somebody needs to do something about this

Daniel

UK

January 26, 2016 at 1:05 am

I have been taking Effexor XR capsules for a couple of years without problems. Randomly, I was changed to Venlalic XR, same drug, but different manufacturer & in tablet form. Around the same time I developed gastritis but thought nothing of it. Went to the doctor, got medication for gastritis & kept taking the Venlafaxine, which was back as capsules.

Recently, due to price pressure, I only get given Venlalic tablets and have noticed that I’ve got gastritis again. The latest batch came with a new warning sticker that they need to be taken with food. A look at the information sheet says it may cause gastric bleeding. I have a history of bleeds and have to avoid NSAIDs like Ibuprofen.

Effectively, the change from capsules to tablets has resulted in me developing gastritis, which can develop into a gastric bleed over time. They claim there’s no difference but for some people there obviously is. I mean, some drugs can be taken orally or rectally; it’s the same drug but very different formulations that you don’t want to mix up!

Sheri

Florida

December 17, 2015 at 11:55 am

I’ve been on Venlafaxine 75mg for several years now. It’s worked great for me – just enough to take the “edge” off after having a complete hysterectomy. My husband and I have just been “sold” to a mail order pharmacy and I noticed that my medication looks different. I haven’t tried the new Venlafaxine yet (made by Aurobindo in India), but after reading all of these comments and stories, it’s got me very concerned. I’m scared to use the “new” medication now. I didn’t want to use the mail order pharmacy, but our insurance has bullied us into it. My husband takes a ton of medication for various ailments. How is this going to affect him??? We can’t afford to be “whacked out”! We have a family, jobs and a grandchild that all require our full attention.

Ven

virginia

December 10, 2015 at 6:09 pm

recently was switched by CVS pharmacy to the Aurobindo generic, and found it weaker than the previous one (bright orange, mfgr unknown). Now they claim there is no encapsulated generic venlafaxine IN THE COUNTRY. I must convince my MD and insurance to pay for brand name. What the fresh hell is this?!

Elizabeth

Virginia

October 31, 2015 at 11:03 am

I have been on brand name Effexor since about 1996. It worked perfectly and I was able to taper to 37.5 mg/day. After several years at that dosage, my pharmacy gave me a generic brand without my knowledge or consent. Within a week I was so dizzy I couldn’t think or drive. My life was going great but I began to cry all the time. One night at dinner with a friend we were talking about funny things and I began to cry and then sob uncontrollably. I went to the pharmacy to check because that was the only medicine I was taking and they told me it was generic. So they noted on my chart that I cannot take generic Effexor. I am retired and my former employer has informed me that they are no longer going to provide the insurance and drug plan I have been on for over 30 years. They required that I go through a broker with only a limited number of approved providers to choose from. None of them cover Effexor at all. I think it costs over $300/mo and I can’t afford that without some coverage. Now what am I to do? I’d like to note that over the years, I have found no noticeable difference in other generic drugs–just generic for Effexor.

marta

washington

September 17, 2015 at 12:31 pm

I was changed to a generic venlafaxine and had terrible side effects It was something I didn’t understand until it just kept getting worse. I switched to another pharmacy that didn’t get their drugs from India and am feeling better. I decided to try to wean myself off these drugs because you never know anymore where they are coming from. Hopefully I will succeed.

Laura R.

Massachusetts

August 19, 2015 at 6:54 pm

I almost died driving without knowing I was and ran over a hydrant, fully in a daze or state of shock, unaware of Effexor XR 75 mg. extended release missed dose dangerous side effects. I had the empty pill bottle in my purse to remind me to get it refilled. I sought professional help/antidepressants because my stress level was through the roof.

My boyfriend broke up with me, who was supporting me financially. Then suddenly told by family to evacuate my apartment because of a deceptive lie. I was never informed by my landlord (family member), that I was only to reside there renting until I got back on my feet after losing my house. My anxiety became unbearable so I sought help from my primary doctor’s same practice’s co doctor, as my primary was booked.

I was sleeping excessively, feeling desperate/sad/scared possibly suicidal. As a single female of 43, being totally in debt, broke, homeless, and feeling betrayed by lovers and family members I trusted, there seemed no other choice but to go on medication.

If I had been told by my doctor the severe side effects of running out of the pills, I would have never gone on them in the first place! Now I face criminal charges because of the car accident. I tried to start taking the Effexor as soon as possible after the accident because the anxiety after almost inadvertently killing myself, once again became unbearable, and moving with a concussion was horrible. The refill was Teva Venlafaxine ER 75mg. stating on the bottle that it was interchange for Effexor XR.

I began cooking without remembering and thank god I have a new boyfriend who shut the stove off when I was sleeping unaware I had been cooking!!!! The fear of burning my new apartment down or getting in another car and not knowing I am driving is too life threatening. I am currently discontinuing taking any of these drugs that have warnings, but not on the label of dangers of stopping the medication. I believe the FDA should not allow people to take these drugs at all!!!

I am very dizzy with electrical shocks in my head and body, numbness, nightly insomnia, daily exhaustion. When I do sleep it is only for an hour at best and I have nightmares. I am scared to leave my house, crying constantly, having vertigo, and disorientation. I am going to see the doctor in the morning and praying she can help me not lose my license to drive, by writing a note for court next week about the accident. I was only on the antidepressants for under 3 months, but the side effects and horrible life complications are worse than before I went on them in the first place. Research your meds in depth online please, for your own safety. There are scary threads of mothers with kids in the car and not remembering driving, who were on Effexor/Venlafaxine.

Debbie

Ohio

April 10, 2015 at 9:31 pm

Was taking venlafaxine by TEVA, when refilled it was switched to Aurobindo mfg. It went from a light orange capsule to a dark orangeish/brown color. I am trying to figure out if this is may have caused me to have hives. Has anyone had this happen to them? Waiting to see allergist for testing.
Thanks

Michael

United States

January 21, 2015 at 12:33 pm

I was switched from name brand Effexor XR a year and a half ago and I have not been the same since. For months now I have been suffering from a rollercoaster of ups and downs, with the downs coming in the afternoons. I get irritable in the evenings. I read this article and thread and it was an “aha” moment. I remember that several years ago I have briefly taken the generic at the insistence of my insurance company and it had a bad effect on me and my doctor told my insurer to switch me back to the name brand for medical reasons. My pharmacy told me that Teva manufactures my Venlafaxine 150mg XR capsules and I now realize that this is probably the issue. It’s really criminal.

LINDA

February 4, 2016 at 4:06 pm

YES!!!! Thank goodness I read this I have been taking Teva Effexor and then I changed pharmacies and he gave me some rose/pink color I started breaking out now he gave me some white and gray capsules I AM STILL BREAKING OUT IN HIVES …So I will be returning to the other pharmacy (which I don’t care for) but right now no choice.

Elizabeth B.

Augusta, GA

January 11, 2015 at 12:08 pm

I too have recently had a bad experience when my generic Venlafaxine XR mfr was received from a different pharmacy. I had previously been receiving the med manufactured by ZYGUS which worked quite well. On my last Dr. visit I asked that my Rx be switched to my mail-order pharmacy. Big Mistake! This pharm. dispenses TEVA (super-huge generic drug mfr). It has been as if I weren’t taking anything. I too experience the ‘swimmy’ effects, these have been quickly followed by extreme sadness, fear, dark feeling, anxiety, sexual numbness etc… It took me a couple of weeks to realize that it was not winter blues it is the change in medication manufacturer.
My mail-order pharmacist couldn’t have been LESS concerned! She had no sympathy, nor any suggestions as to how to ‘fix’ this. I called her first because the Dr.’s office had not yet opened for the day. I am in the process of having my Rx switched back to Costco which hopefully will continue to dispense Zygus & maybe I’ll get back to ‘normal’.
I am SO happy I found your article. Thank you! EB

Sarah L.

Baton Rouge

October 30, 2014 at 8:38 pm

I recently got generic effexor XL from Aurabindo Pharma and had a significant return of depressive symptoms within 3 days. My doctor suggested one possible explanation that the med was not time-released as it should be. Or, There was under-dosing for which Aurabindo has already been warned by the FDA. I reported this to the FDA and Wyeth because of the wyeth lawsuit with Aurabindo to not get FDA approval to make Effexor. This company is in India.

LES

July 18, 2014 at 12:03 am

My husband gets very sick on Teva generic effexor. Vomits, migraines, can’t function. This product is made in India. The Zy-generics, or Zydus, works well. It is made in Pennsylvania, I believe. He feels best on the brand-name, non-generics, however.

Cindy

October 30, 2014 at 10:47 am

I’ve taken Effexor for the better part of 15 years and have been very pleased with the results. No issues at all. This past year or so, I started fighting with migraines, dizziness, vomiting, fuzzy vision, and “swimmy” brain, to the point that this is affecting my professional and personal life. There have been times that I seriously can’t drive and have had to pull over because I became that impaired.

Doing some internet research on migraines, I came across this posting and was amazed. I too have had my Effexor switched to generic this year and mfg. from Teva.
I have a neurologist appointment today (10/30/14) to look into my migraines for obvious reasons. Now I’m going to discuss with them to remove me from Teva generic Effexor and see what happens. Of course, this is a process and one that will take months if not a year to document results. However, I think the lesson here for all of us is that “generic” does make a difference with some medications.

pp

July 15, 2014 at 2:57 pm

It’s not the FDA we need to petition, it’s Congress. The House Commerce committee is the one to try to get to. WE need to petition them to have hearings on this, and why the FDA is the patsy of Big Pharma. It’s gong to cost money, but this needs to gotten right, and in the end will save money, not to mention lives!

fkb

July 15, 2014 at 12:57 pm

I have been on Effexor XR for over 10 years and it worked beautifully for chronic and sometimes severe depression. When the generic came out my insurance company switched me to this drug and at first I experienced no difference in how I felt, which was OK.
I recently refilled my prescription and have noticed that I am crying more easily, over nothing specific, I am depressed and have no desire to interact with people… all the symptoms I had before I was on medication.
I saw your Alert yesterday and now realize it’s not me, but my medication causing this regression. Printed out the article and will be having a discussion with my pharmacist tomorrow.
Thank you for this most important information.

Marie

July 14, 2014 at 5:27 am

I have never taken antidepressants, but I am interested because so many people are on them and all over the world. I live in Scandinavia.
I think doctors, nurses etc. neither know enough about the medications nor about withdrawing from them safely.
I would like to recommend “Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal – A guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients and Their Families” by Peter R. Breggin (2013). There are also some videos on his site.
I have also enjoyed Robert Whitakers books “Mad in America” and “The Anatomy of an Epidemic”. You will always find something interesting on his site, madinamerica.com.
I just saw a trailer for a documentary called “Numb”. There were other clips as well and some about withdrawal.
I just love the Internet!

Penny

Wisconsin

June 17, 2015 at 3:53 pm

When you are ready to get off Effexor, the withdrawals are TERRIBLE HORRIBLE! I was weaned off the med and after FIVE weeks of taking no pills, I am STILL having withdrawals. Dizziness, stomach issues, ear ringing, weight issues, on and on and on. HORRIBLE drug! If you do not plan to be on an antidepressant for the rest of your life, ask about a different one.

sbp/

July 13, 2014 at 10:48 pm

My daughter has informed me of a sight called to CARE2. Anyone can start a petition to have concerns that effect the general public brought to the attention of the Government agency in charge. People on facebook and other sites sign the petition and it is sent to the agency and your Senator and your Congressperson.
How many lives must be put in danger or loss because all involved only care about profits and the bottom line. I was suicidal when I was given Verapamil instead of my other blood pressure meds. I was not warned that one of the side effects was that this medicine could bring on severe panic attacks which I used to suffer from I hadn’t had an attack in years but two weeks after starting the Verapamil I was a basket case suffering two or three attacks in one day. We don’t know how many people may have died because of these practices.

JFR

July 13, 2014 at 2:18 pm

Is there any way The People’s Pharmacy readers could sign a petition to the FDA to let them know we are fed up with this? Does the FDA not have enough funds to do a good job? Are there connections between the FDA and Pharmaceutical Companies. I just paid $100 + for 15 pills in order to get the Brand Name, and my insurance does not cover this.

PR

July 13, 2014 at 1:59 pm

I have taken Effexor XR 37.5 for 13 years. I was put on it when we had a tragedy in our family and the shock brought on depression. I cannot get off of it but am thinking of trying. The generic made me dizzy and “off.”
BCBS is not happy that I am on the name brand after complaining to my doctor. My doctor was on the drug council in Dallas and has always said that generics do not dissolve in the body the way that the name brand does.

Cindy

October 30, 2014 at 10:48 am

J.L. J.

July 13, 2014 at 12:37 pm

The generic Venlafaxine my pharmacist uses comes from Apotex, a Canadian pharmaceutical, but with ties to Indian manufacturers. I recently asked my doctor to increase my dose as the old one didn’t seem to be working. It still comes from Apotex. Now I worry it is because of faulty manufacturing practices, not that I needed an increased dose. How can I protect myself?

Margaret

July 13, 2014 at 11:57 am

I had a similar experience last year with Atenolol. I had been taking it for ten years and it kept my blood pressure under control. Suddenly it wasn’t working any more, in fact my blood pressure went up after taking it. I told my doctor that I thought they were “fake pills”. She laughed and said “Let’s try something else.” I tried three different medications and none of them helped. Then I read your report on Ranbaxy and Atenolol! I still had the leaflet that came with the Atenolol so I looked at it and sure enough it was made by Ranbaxy. I showed your report to my doctor and she apologised for doubting me. She gave me a new prescription for Atenolol and I took it to CVS.
Since your report said that the FDA had banned the importation of drugs from Ranbaxy, I assumed that the Atenolol would be from a different company. When I got home, I looked to see who was the manufacturer and saw “Ranbaxy”! I couldn’t believe it. I immediately went back to the store with a copy of your report and told the pharmacist that they were not allowed to dispense drugs from Ranbaxy. She gave me a dirty look and said “They’re fine! We have been dealing with them for years. There’s nothing wrong with them.” So I handed her the copy of your report and she threw it down on the counter and said “I know all about that.” She was very annoyed with me.
She said she would “try” to get some but it might take several days. I told her to please do that. When I got the new prescription it was just like before – worked like a charm. Now I always check the manufacturer when I get a prescription. But isn’t it sad that we have to do this? Why can’t drugs be made in this country?
Thank you so much for all the work you do on our behalf.

jk

July 13, 2014 at 10:52 am

A couple of years ago my doctor put me on digoxin for Afib. I took it for 3 days and started feeling funny. Couldn’t put my finger on how I felt but I thought the digoxin just had to have a chance to work.
By the fifth day I got up in the morning and I had a rash and swelling on my left leg. I stopped taking the digoxin right away. About 10:00 am my pharmacist called to say the digoxin had been recalled and to stop taking it. He also called my doctor to tell him. Then the doctors office called to tell me there had been a recall. Of course it was the pharmacist that had called the doctor.
I went to the doctor that same day and he gave me something….sorry I dont remember what…but by that same evening I had a rash with big welts all over me and my face was swollen. It took almost a month for me to feel better.
Here is one instance where the pharmacist was on the ball. The recall was that there was a larger dose misslabeled. Needless to say I will never take that again. My Afib is now controlled with another medication.

S.W.

July 13, 2014 at 10:02 am

My son and I have had problems with the generic lorazepam made by Ranbaxy. My son would go into withdrawal while taking it!
I bought mine at a different pharmacy from a different manufacturer and had to share mine with him so he would not go into withdrawal. Then, we read in the news alert on People’s Pharmacy about Ranbaxy’s problems. My pharmacy recently bought their generic lorazepam from the manufacturer Sandoz, and it is the best generic so far. In fact, it is so strong that I have been able to reduce the dose! I informed the pharmacist that this is the best generic lorazepam of all manufacturers I have tried over the years I’ve taken it.

P.Grossmann

July 13, 2014 at 9:45 am

Have have similar problems with Prevacid prescription. Have been on it for years with no problems. After I got a generic (don’t know what or what company) I found that it didn’t do the same job and had to take an additional tablet at each dose. Told my doctor about it. Have gone back to purchasing the Prevacid over the counter as I don’t have any faith in the generic.

We invite you to share your thoughts with others, but remember that our comment section is a public forum. Please do not use your full first and last name if you want to keep details of your medical history anonymous. A first name and last initial or a pseudonym is acceptable. Advice from other commenters on this website is not a substitute for medical attention. Do not stop any medicine without checking with the prescriber. Stopping medication suddenly could result in serious harm. We expect comments to be civil in tone and language. By commenting, you agree to abide by our commenting policy and website terms & conditions. Comments that do not follow these policies will not be posted.